INVESTMENT

Harman International Industries Inc, whose $8 billion sale fell apart last week, warned on Monday that quarterly profit would be less than half what Wall Street expected, sending its shares down as much as 8 percent.

Stocks shifted on Monday with gains in the technology sector unable to sustain a broader declining market, which began to rally last week amid the Fed's bold rate cut.

Deutsche Bank's profit could be hit by up to 1.7 billion euros ($2.4 billion) due to loans that have dwindled in value as a result of the credit market crisis, sources familiar with the situation said.

Investors' confidence in the U.S. economy fell in September for a fourth straight month to its lowest level in 13 months on continued concerns about the housing market and elevated energy costs, a survey showed on Monday.

Deutsche Bank's profit could be hit by up to 1.7 billion euros ($2.4 billion) due to loans that have dwindled in value as a result of the credit market crisis, sources familiar with the situation said.

Gold gained on Monday and hovered near a 28-year high after a weak U.S. dollar spurred buying from investors and speculators, who believed the price could rise further as fundamentals supported the metal.

Three leading hedge funds are planning a break-up of beleaguered British bank Northern Rock , according to a newspaper report on Sunday.

Two private-equity firms have called off an $8 billion deal to buy high-end audio company Harman International Industries.

Beijing will cap a program allowing its citizens to invest in Hong Kong's stock market, regulators said on Friday, scaling back an earlier aggressive plan to open a gateway for its capital accounts.

HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe's biggest bank, said on Friday that it would close its U.S. subprime mortgage unit, cutting 750 jobs and taking $945 million in charges and write-downs, because the business is no longer sustainable. It was the latest blow from the meltdown in the U.S. market for loans to home buyers with poor credit histories.

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s private equity arm are worried about certain financial conditions inside Harman International Industries Inc, concerns that could threaten the $8 billion deal, a source said on Friday.

Gold rose to its highest in nearly three decades on Friday as a struggling U.S. dollar lifted its safe-haven appeal and purchases from speculators helped the metal defy selling pressure.Gold hit a 28-year high in Europe on Friday as the dollar's continued slide to record lows versus the euro raised the metal's appeal to speculative investors.

The private equity buyers of Harman International Industries Inc are balking at completing the $8 billion purchase of the audio-equipment maker, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Friday after Nike and Oracle reported higher-than-expected financial results, but trading was likely to be volatile as equity derivative contracts expired.

Investors continued to flock to Gold on Thursday sending it to another 27-year high on Thursday amid expectations of continuing lower U.S. interest rates brought on by a tough credit market and a weak outlook for the slumping U.S. dollar.

Two Wall Street investment banks had dramatically different success in weathering summer market turbulence as results at Goldman Sachs Group Inc easily exceeded expectations, while those at Bear Stearns Cos Inc fell far short.

Private equity firm Carlyle Group said on Thursday it is selling a 7.5 percent stake to an Abu Dhabi investment arm for $1.35 billion in a deal that values the Washington-based buyout company at $20 billion.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc said on Thursday that quarterly profit surged 79 percent, blowing away expectations of weak results, as the investment bank generated its second-highest revenue ever despite turbulent summer markets.

Spot gold prices surged to a 28-year high in European trade on Thursday, as the dollar sank to record lows against the euro and oil traded near all-time highs -- raising the precious metal's appeal for investors.

Bear Stearns Cos Inc said on Thursday quarterly profit plunged 61 percent to its lowest level in five years on bad bets on subprime mortgages and disrupted fixed-income trading.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc said on Thursday that quarterly profit surged 79 percent, blowing away expectations of weak results, as the investment bank generated its second-highest revenue ever despite turbulent summer markets.